Dispensing container having a flexible walled follower



Sept. 14, 1954 C. D. SCHROEDER ET AL DISPENSING CONTAINER HAVING AFLEXIBLE WALLED FOLLOWER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 50 1950 FIG.

INVENTORS;

9 THEIR ATTORN YS.

SePt- 14, 1954 c. D. scHRoEDER ET AL 2,689,065

DISPENSING CONTAINER HAVING A FLEXIBLE WALLED FOLLOWER Filed Jan. 301950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.

INVENTORS'.

Patented Sept. 14, 1954 1 l t l 2,689,065

OFFICE VDISPENSING VCONTAINER HAVING A FLEXIBLE WALLED FOLLOWERCharlesD. Schroeder and Marvin W. Marsh,

, St.` Louis, Mo.

Application January 30, 195o, serial No. 141,246

7 claims.. (c1. 222-95) e1 This invention relates to improvements indispensing devices and particularly dispensing devices for viscoussubstances. A dispenser of this type provides an easy and sanitary meansfor dispensing various substances, such as peanut butter, syrup, honey,grease,` putty, liquid wax and other things. Y A Y AThis invention`presents an improvement over the dispensers'of this type heretoforedisclosed.

The principal objectof this invention is yto provide a'simple andeconomical device for dispensing the contents-'0f a container by meansofy fluid pressure.

f Another object of this invention is to provide in a dispensing devicewhose contents are expelled by means vvof fluid pressure, avconstruction which allows a more even or smoother now of the contentstherefrom, regardless of whether the container is full or nearly empty.

Another object is to provide a dispenser which more completely lemptiesthe contents within the dispenser. l

A further object is to provide in a dispenser of this type a collapsiblebag whose resistance to ystretching remains constant as it is beingstretched after a certain deformation has been y reached.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a dispensingdevice operated by fluid pressure, a simple and economical collapsiblebag whose shape and resistance to collapse allows va more uniform andsmoother flow ofcontents therefrom.

This device comprises a container having a collapsible bag therein andmeans for keepin?,r the bottom of said bag near the bottom of saidcontainer or downwardly at all times.

'The invention also consists in the parts and in the arrangements and'combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed. In thevaccompanying drawings which form part of this specication and whereinlike symbols refer to like part'swherever theyo'ccur,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of this new dispensing device,

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view rtaken along the line 2-2 inFig. 1,`

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional View taken along the line 3-3 inFig. 2, the dotted lines showing the bag in its fully collapsedposition,

iFig. 4 is a perspective view of the collapsible bag with a wiretherein,

Fig. -5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sec! tional view taken alongtheline 5-5 in Fig.-1,4

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a bottom ofthe container bymeans of a wire secured to the outside of said collapsible bag,

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of still another modied formof this device in which the sides of the collapsible bag are adhesivelysecured to the inside of the container, v

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along theline 9-9 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along theline IU--Ill in Fig. 7, and

Fig. 11 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line I I-Il in Fig. 8.` Y

This dispenser comprises a cylindrical container I having a cylindricalwall 2, and end portion or bottom 3 with a lling valve or check valve 4therein and an end portion or top 5 with a shutoff or exit valve 6th'erein. A collapsible bag 1 is located within said cylindricalcontainer I and has its upper edge 8 crimped in lplace at the junctionof the top portion 5 and said cylindrical wall 2 of the container I.With this arrangement the top of the collapsible bag 1 also serves as agasket at the `iunction of said cylindrical wall 2 and said end portionor top 5 of the cylindrical containerV I. A rigid Ushaped restrainingmember S formed of stiff Wire is located within said collapsible bag 1with its bridge portion bearing against the bot.- tom' of the bag andits arms extending along opposite side portions thereof and engaging theinner surface of the top of the container. This restraining memberserves to keep the bottom of said collapsible bag 1 downwardly at alltimes. The Wire restraining member 9 prevents upward movement of thebottom of said collapsible bag 1, prevents undesirable pockets fromforming in side portions of the collapsible bag 1, and'prevents portionsof said collapsible bag 1 from moving over the exit valve 6 'to' aposition in blocking relation thereto.

With the exit valve 6 closed and the collapsible bag 1, with thewire 9therein, filled with the desired substance, the cylindrical container Iis charged to 4any suitable pressure through the check valve 4 in thebottom portions thereof. The pressure to which the container issubjected depends Aupon size and shape of the container, the

size and yshape of the collapsible bag therein, and the viscosity of thesubstance to be dispensed. v

Fluid pressure can also be obtained by using a liquid with a high vaporpressure. can be poured into the top of the container prior to placingthe rcollapsible bag therein thereby, thus eliminating the need for thecheck valve 4.

The collapsible bag l is made preferably of one or more thicknesses ofmaterial which initially resists stretching but stretches readily afteronce being deformed and does not resume its original shape after thestretching force has been removed. A collapsible bag made from amaterial having these properties is less susceptible of havingundesirable pockets form therein, which pockets might form regardless ofthe wire 9 in said collapsible bag I if a material which can be readilystretched is used. One material which gives satisfactory results ispolyethylene of uniform thickness.

The collapsible bag I is shaped preferably so thta the fluid pressureacts in a manner to cause the contents of said collapsible bag I to becompletely expelled therefrom. The collapsible bag 'I is also shaped sothat ratio of the volume for pressure fluid to the volume of contents inthe collapsible bag is large enough so that a relatively low fiuidpressure may be used. This large ratio results in smaller fluid.pressure losses due to the contents of the collapsible bag I beingexpelledthan would be possible if a smaller ratio were used. Asubstantially wedge shaped collapsiblel bag I gives good results.

Such a collapsible bag 'I prevents a premature closing at the topthereof prior to a collapse of the lower portion thereby insuring acomplete discharge of the contents therein.

If the rigid material or wire 9 has a tendency to break through thecollapsible bag l, the diameter of wire S may be increased or extrathicknesses may be added to the bag.

i There are means other than a wire 9 within the collapsible bag 'I forkeeping the bottom of said collapsible bag 'I near the bottom of saidcylindrical container I at all times. Figures 6 and 9'show a modifiedform of this device comprising a hollow cylindrical container I having acollapsible bag 1 therein Whose bottom is held downwardly by means of aclamp I0. Obviously, smaller clamps or hooks may be used and may besecured to the cylindrical wall and/or the check valve 4 and/or thebottom portion 3v of said cylindrical container I.

Fig. 7 shows another modied form of this device in which the wirerestraining member 9 isA disposed outside of the collapsible bag. 'I instraddling relation thereto with the lower end of the bag wrapped aboutits bridge portion.

Fig. 8 shows still another modification in which the sides of thecollapsible bag I are adhesively secured to the inside of thecylindrical wall 2 and/or the bottom portion 3 of the cylindricalcontainer I.

Obviously, the hereinbefore described dispensing device admits ofconsiderable modification without departingfrom the invention.

Therefore, we do not wish to be limited' to the precise arrangementsshown and described.

What we claim is:

1. A dispensing device comprising a container of stiff material having abodyl and a top and a bottom, said top being provided with an outlet,the container being also provided with a pressurefluid inlet, alcollapsible material-holding bag in' said container closed at itssidesand bottom and having an open upper end surrounding said outlet Thisliquid 4 for discharge of material from the bag through the outlet,there being space about the bag within said container constituting apressure-fluid chamber, and a restraining member for said basr having aportion engaging the lower end of the bag and preventing movement of thebag away from the bottom of the container when the bag is collapsedtransversely by pressure of fluid in said chamber. f Y

2. A dispensing device comprising a container of stiff material having abody and a top and a bottom, said top being provided with an outlet,

l the container being also provided with a pressure-fluid inlet, acollapsible material-holding bag in said container closed at its sidesand bottom and having an open upper end surrounding said outlet fordischarge of material from the bag through the outlet, there being spaceabout l the bag within said container constituting a pressure-fluidchamber, and a U-shaped restraining member for said bag having itsbridge portion engaging the bottom of the bag and its arms eXtend.-

ing upwardly along side portions of the bag, said v restraining memberat all times `preventing up'- ward movement of the bag away fromthebottom of the container and allowing portions of walls of the bagbetween arms'of the restraining member to move towards each other duringcollapsing of the bag by pressure of fluid in the cham-1. ber.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein marginal edge portions of the topare secured to the upperY end of the body by a folded joint and lupperend portions of the bag are engaged in the joint and form a sealinggasket for the joint.

4. The subject matter of claim 2 wherein rthe U-shaped restrainingmember is disposed entirely within the bag with its bridge portionextending along the bottom of the bag and its arms extending upwardlyalong opposite sides of the bag and at their upper ends having labuttingengagement with the under surface of the top of'l the container. y

5. The structure of clai1n 2 wherein the U-` shaped restraining memberis disposed in strade dling relation tothe bag with the lower end of thebag wrapped about its bridge portion and its arms extending upwardlyalong opposite sides of the bag and terminating inl abutting relationtodiametrically opposed marginal. portions of the top of the container.

6. The structure of claim. l lwherein the restraining member consists ofa clamp gripping.A

the bottom of the bag. and anchored to the bottom of the container. 7.The structure of claim 1 wherein the bag .is formed of thin plasticsheet material which initially resists stretching but stretches-readilyafter once being deformed and does no-t returnV to. its original shapeafter stretching force has been discontinued.

References Cited in the file of. this patent? UNITED STATES PATENTS yDate Croce July 29, 1952i

